To say that we got good weather for our first swim of the season would be an understatement.....

Portrush was basking in warm sunshine when I arrived at the harbour at 1030am and with the southerly wind at a mere 5mph the scene was surely set for a great days swimming!!! And so it proved to be!!!

The swimmers started to arrive for registration and "Numbering up" from 1230 onwards and at 1330 they all gathered at the harbour mouth for the mandatory safety briefing.

Once the briefing was over the swimmers got changed and made their way to one of the safety boats to be ferried out to the start just off the Black Rocks for the start of the swim.

Ildsa member and last years champion George Meenan was given the job of "Starter" and accompanied the swimmers on the safety boat.  Once across the bay George then instructed the swimmers to enter the water and the race got underway.

The ladies race started with the favourite Marianne Day immediately opening up a commanding lead over Alison Cardwell and last years champion Ruth Butler with Iryna kennedy (In her first ILDSA swim) also swimming well in fourth. 

Marianne Day eventually won in a impressive time of 13.22. Alison Cardwell and Ruth Butler got second and third respectively with Iryna Kennedy fourth.

In the mens race Gerard Curran immediately took the lead with Robert Barry, Carl Russell and Gary Knox in hot pursuit. As they made their way across the bay these 4 were having quite a battle and slowly pulled away from the rest of the field.  

"Races within the race" then started to develop as Paddy Bradley "Slugged it out" with Danny Miller and Ian Hutchings battled with Alex Curran. No swimmer was prepared to give an inch!!

Gerard Curran eventually won in a time of 13.16 closely followed by Robert Barry, Carl Russell and Gary Knox with Adam Wilson swimming well to finish in fifth.

After the race all the swimmers availed of the hot showers in the yacht club and then proceeded upstairs for hot soup, sandwiches and the presentations 

Event organiser Jeff Wilson and ILDSA President Billy Wallace were on hand to give out the medals and afterwards Jeff Wilson thanked the Yacht club for their hospitality, the canoeists for their safety cover and last but by no means least the swimmers for making it a day to remember!!

Roll on 2011!!!